Liberals promise to help fix country health skills shortage

Health professionals and skilled volunteers will be recruited, trained and developed to address gaps in the health workforce in regional South Australia under a $20 million plan from the State Liberals.

Liberal candidate for MacKillop Nick McBride said the South East community has faced continual challenges to recruit and retain resident specialists.

“A Marshall Liberal Government will invest $20 million in country health to assist communities fill skill gaps and attract specialists to country South Australia,” said Mr McBride.

“We will also deliver funding to assist teaching and training in country hospitals, as well as doubling the number of medical interns in regional South Australia.

“Metropolitan areas of the state have had major investment in health care, however, country health has been largely ignored, despite an ageing population base.”

The plan will also support the recruitment and retention of resident specialists in country South Australia through the engagement of interns, registrars and medical officers with specialist skills; develop registered nurse/midwife collaborative graduate programs in regional South Australia; ensure the ambulance service accommodates the changing employment and volunteering patterns in rural areas; and strengthen Aboriginal health worker and allied health professional training opportunities.